Climate Audit of the EU's Foreign Policy

The NewClimate Institute's audit finds that while the EU aims to be a global climate leader, it must move beyond technical UNFCCC negotiations toward a geopolitical approach. The report highlights a loss of credibility due to gas infrastructure investments following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and recommends institutionalising climate mainstreaming and strengthening the 'Team Europe' collaboration between EU institutions and Member States.

• The EU's credibility as a global climate leader is currently threatened by actions perceived as hypocritical, specifically the 'dash for gas' and the allocation of public funds toward gas infrastructure that may become stranded, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent energy crisis. To maintain diplomatic soft power, the EU must increase its ambition and ensure diversification strategies do not undermine decarbonisation goals.
• The EU needs to institutionalise climate mainstreaming to ensure climate change is a central consideration rather than an afterthought in foreign policy decision-making. This requires a coordinated approach involving high-level leadership priorities, adequate resources, and the creation of specific institutional structures and procedures.
• The EU's climate diplomacy is currently primarily technical and focused on UNFCCC negotiations; it should transition to a more holistic and geopolitical approach. This involves integrating climate considerations into other foreign policy channels, including industrial policy, foreign security, international trade, and finance and investment.
• To improve the coordination and effectiveness of foreign climate policy, the EU should expand the 'Team Europe' approach. This involves pooling resources, aligning strategies, and sharing best practices between Member States and EU institutions, underpinned by a common long-term high-level foreign climate policy vision.

APA

NewClimate Institute (2023). Climate Audit of the EU's Foreign Policy. http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/climate-audit-of-the-eus-foreign-policy

Chicago

NewClimate Institute. Climate Audit of the EU's Foreign Policy. 2023. http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/climate-audit-of-the-eus-foreign-policy.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=NewClimate Institute |title=Climate Audit of the EU's Foreign Policy |date=28 April 2023 |url=http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/climate-audit-of-the-eus-foreign-policy |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{newclimateinstitute2023climate, author = {{NewClimate Institute}}, title = {{Climate Audit of the EU's Foreign Policy}}, institution = {NewClimate Institute}, year = {2023}, month = apr, url = {http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/climate-audit-of-the-eus-foreign-policy}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }